Chicago childhood friends are honored for police and fire work

Departments honor them for bravery in line of duty

Charles Daly and Joseph Martinelli ran around the same streets, played pickup ball and worked summer jobs together in the Transfiguration of Our Lord Parish on the Northwest Side.

They were one year apart and lived across the street from each other. Daly later became a Chicago police officer and Martinelli a Chicago firefighter.

On Tuesday morning, they were back together again -- this time to receive the two highest honors the city gives to its Chicago police and firefighters.

"Two troublemakers done good," joked Martinelli, 38.

Daly, 39, a sergeant in the gang investigations unit, was credited with saving his partner's life after fatally shooting a man who pulled a pistol on them last year.

Martinelli, a member of a heavy rescue unit, stayed with a fire victim during a blaze this year until a rescue was possible.

Daly received the Carter H. Harrison medal and Martinelli the Lambert Tree Award.

Daly and Martinelli each was the kid down the street who was always around for a ballgame.

"I was a better pitcher," Daly said. "He was a better wrestler."

After graduating from Transfiguration, Daly attended Lane Technical High School and Martinelli went to St. Patrick High School. But they remained in touch over the years, aware that each had been hired by the city.

Both thought the other had the more treacherous job, Daly said.

And on Tuesday both were recognized for the dangers each faces -- even as they recognized the differences of their professions.

"I think (Daly) receives this award with a heavy heart," Martinelli said. "No one ever wants to take a life, but he had to do it to protect his partner."

Daly said he had already heard Martinelli's story but on Tuesday was reminded of the risk Martinelli took after he found himself trapped with a fire victim in a bedroom of a Northwest Side apartment.

"He got burned up dragging the guy out of the house," Daly said. "He could have easily saved himself."

Martinelli said flames blocked his exit and an air-conditioning unit prevented him from going out a window, so he was forced to wait inside the room with the victim until he heard other firefighters arrive and doused water on the fire.